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You've decided on a degree and now you're ready to apply. Let's get into the details.

Admission to all UNSW degrees is based on academic merit - meaning we need an academic qualification to assess you. There's no other way to gain admission to UNSW.

The information below has been customised for you based on the type of student you are (this selection was made when you entered the site or page). If you'd like to change your initial selection, simply click the person icon in the menu bar above.

Browse through the information below and let us know if you have any questions. You can call us on 1300 UNI NSW (1300 864 679) or use the "Ask a Question" button below.

If you completed your high school education overseas and you haven't completed any further study, you will need to check if we accept your qualification. Please use the box below to search by country for a list of the qualifications we accept.

Enter a Country name

If your qualification is accepted, you will submit an application to study at UNSW via the Universities Admissions Centre. If you'd like to know specifically how your high school qualification compares to an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Academic Rank), you can use UAC's Qualifications Assessment Service (fee applies).

Another possible pathway if you have completed the majority of your high school education overseas, is a Foundation Year program. At UNSW, we have developed a comprehensive pre-university Foundation Year program to prepare students for tertiary study in Australia. You may qualify for entry to UNSW by undertaking this progam.

If your qualification isn't accepted, you'll need to consider another pathway, like a TAFE qualification, a formal preparation program or starting your study at another university and transferring to UNSW later. As every situation is unique, it's probably best that we chat about what may be the best options for you. Please ring us on (02) 9385 1844 or Ask a Question.

Your grades from a completed Certificate IV, that has been accredited by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), may be used to assess you for admission to UNSW. Please note that your qualification must have been graded, not competency based, for it to be considered for entry into UNSW Bachelor degrees.

It is also important to note that students with a tertiary study record are not eligible for adjustment factors and, as such, Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made may not be indicative of the results required.

NOTE: The TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate is considered a preparation course and is assessed differently to a regular Certificate IV. See the ''I have completed a university preparation program' under the 'I have Work and Life Experience' tab below.

There are a few things that you must check if using a completed Diploma for entry to UNSW.

Is your Diploma:

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited?

Graded or competency based?

UNSW only accepts completed AQF accredited Diplomas for entry. Please note that your qualification must have been graded, not competency based, for it to be considered for entry into UNSW Bachelor degrees. To check Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made for each degree visit Find a Degree.

It is also important to note that students with a tertiary study record are not eligible for adjustment factors and, as such, Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made may not be indicative of the results required.

As you have a completed Diploma, you will be assessed separately to high school students.

To study at UNSW you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

If you still don’t know if you are eligible or if you have any other questions it's probably best that we have a chat to discuss your specific circumstances. Please ring the Future Students Office on (02) 9385 1844 or Ask a Question.

There are a few things that you must check if using a completed Advanced Diploma for entry to UNSW.

Is your Advanced Diploma:

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited?

Graded or competency based?

UNSW only accepts completed AQF accredited Advanced Diplomas for entry. Please note that your qualification must have been graded, not competency based, for it to be considered for entry into UNSW Bachelor degrees. To check Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made for each degree visit Find a Degree.

It is also important to note that students with a tertiary study record are not eligible for adjustment factors and, as such, Lowest ATAR to which an offer was made may not be indicative of the results required.

As you have a completed Diploma, you will be assessed separately to high school students.

To study at UNSW you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

If you still don’t know if you are eligible or if you have any other questions it's probably best that we have a chat to discuss your specific circumstances. Please ring the Future Students Office or submit a question.

Less than 0.75 FTE (full time equivalent) of tertiary study is not enough to assess you for entry to UNSW. For this reason you will be assessed on your most recent assessable qualification (e.g. HSC or equivalent).

To have your university studies considered for admission, you must complete at least one year of full-time study (minimum 0.75 full time equivalent load) within one degree at another university.

As every situation is unique, it's probably best that we have a chat to discuss your specific circumstances and how you're likely to be assessed for admission to UNSW. Please ring the Future Students Office on (02) 9385 1844 or submit a question.

If you have completed a minimum of 0.75 FTE (full-time equivalent) of tertiary study and not more than 1.0 FTE of tertiary study in a single degree program, you will be assessed for admission to UNSW on either your first year of tertiary study results OR your ATAR (or equivalent) - whichever is better.

To study at UNSW you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

If you have completed more than 1.0 FTE (full-time equivalent) of teritary study, your admission to UNSW will be based on 25% of your ATAR (or equivalent) and 75% of your tertiary study results. If your ATAR is more than 5 years old, you will be assessed only on your tertiary study.

To study at UNSW you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

If you have already completed an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree, then you can use the results you obtained from that qualification to apply for a different undergraduate degree.

Your admission to UNSW will be based on 25% of your ATAR (or equivalent) and 75% of your tertiary study results. If your ATAR is more than 5 years old, you will be assessed only on your tertiary study.

Less than 0.75 FTE (full time equivalent) of tertiary study is not assessable for entry to UNSW. Your eligibility for admission to a UNSW degree will revert back to your most recent assessable qualification (e.g. HSC or equivalent).

To have your university studies considered for admission, you must complete at least one year of full-time study (minimum 0.75 FTE) within one degree at another university.

Medicine applicants must also complete the additional selection criteria required of all Medicine applicants. More information on these requirements is available here.

If you have completed the equivalent of more than 0.75 FTE (full time equivalent) of teritary study in a single degree, you will be assessed for admission to Law or Medicine at UNSW on 50% of your ATAR results (or equivalent) and 50% of your tertiary study results.

Medicine applicants must also complete the additional selection criteria required of all Medicine applicants. More information on these requirements is available here.

If you are currently studying Medicine at another university, applications for transfer to UNSW Medicine will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Applications for transfer to UNSW Medicine need to be submitted directly to the Universities Admissions Centre. You will also need to submit UNSW's Special Consideration for Applicants with Tertiary Studies (SCATS) application directly to the University. If you are considering a Medicine to Medicine transfer, please contact the Medicine Admissions Manager prior to applying for additional advice.

In all cases, to study at UNSW, you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

If you have already completed an undergraduate (Bachelors) degree, you will be assessed for admission to Law or Medicine at UNSW on 50% of your ATAR results (or equivalent) and 50% of your tertiary study results.

Medicine applicants must also complete the additional selection criteria required of all Medicine applicants. More information on these requirements is available here.

As a postgraduate student at UNSW you will benefit from our flexible degree structures, the number and diversity of course options, our leading researchers and academics, industry links and numerous scholarship opportunities.

Find the relevant information for you by clicking one of the buttons below:

You can use your ATAR (Australian Tertiary Academic Rank) or equivalent (IB, OP, etc) to apply for UNSW study as long as it is less than 5 years old. For example, if you completed your HSC in 2014, you can still use your ATAR for admission to UNSW in 2019. Use Find a Degree to research the degree you're interested in and what last year's Lowest Selection Rank for admission was.

To study at UNSW you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

If you still don’t know if you are eligible or if you have any other questions it's probably best that we have a chat to discuss your specific circumstances. Please ring the Future Students Office on (02) 9385 1844 or Ask a Question.

In most cases your ATAR (Australian Tertiary Academic Rank) or equivalent (IB, OP, etc) is only valid for 5 years. For example, if you completed your HSC in 2013, your ATAR won’t be considered for admission to UNSW for intakes commencing after 2019. If this applies to you, we'll need something else to assess you on - like a university preparation program or a graded, Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited Certificate IV or above.

Note: If you are applying for Bachelor of International Public Health, one of the Medicine or Law programs or to UNSW Canberra at ADFA, your ATAR will always be considered, even if it's more than 5 years old.

As everyone's situation is unique, it's probably best that we have a chat to discuss your specific circumstances and what may be the best option for you. Please ring the Future Students Office on (02) 9385 1844 or submit a question.

It doesn't matter how long ago you received your ATAR (or equivalent) when applying for Medicine or Law degrees - it will always be assessed. On top of your ATAR, both Medicine and Law also have additional selection criteria. Check the Find A Degree tool to find out more.

As everyone's situation is unique, it's probably best that we have a chat to discuss your specific circumstances and what may be the best option for you. Please ring the Future Students Office on (02) 9385 1844 or submit a question.

You can use your Limited ATAR as a form of assessment for entry into most UNSW degrees - except Medicine and Optometry. To be eligible, you must be at least 20 years old on 1 March in the year you complete your HSC studies. You must also complete between 5 and 9 units of ATAR courses, including at least 1 unit of English.

Note: A small number of UNSW degree programs do not accept the UPP. These are: Combined Law, programs offered by the UNSW Business School (except for Commerce, Economics and Information Systems), Medicine, Medicinal Chemistry, Medical Science, Advanced Science, Advanced Mathematics, Optometry (incl. Vision Science), and Psychology (please note that Psychology can be studied as a major in the Bachelor of Life Sciences, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Psychological Science).

Both the UPP and the UNSW Prep program are valid for 5 years.

To continue your study at UNSW after completing the UPP or UNSW Prep program, you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

Note: UNSW Canberra do not accept UNSW Prep program (17-19) or UPP as a pathway into their undergraduate programs.

You can use the grades you've received from this preparation course as a form of assessment for entry into some UNSW degrees. To have your preparation course considered you must be 21 years old or older as of 1 March in the year you start your undergraduate study at UNSW and have completed a minimum of 2 courses, including 1 humanities course.

Note that this preparation course cannot be used for entry into Combined Law, programs offered by the UNSW Business School (except for Commerce, Economics and Information Systems), Medicine, Medicinal Chemistry, Medical Science, Advanced Science, Advanced Mathematics, Optometry (incl. Vision Science), and Psychology (please note that Psychology can be studied as a major in the Bachelor of Life Sciences, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Psychological Science).

This qualification is valid for 5 years only.

To study at UNSW you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

You can use the grades you've received from this preparation course as a form of assessment for entry into some UNSW degrees - as long as you are 21 years old or older as of 1 March in the year you start your undergraduate study at UNSW.

IMPORTANT: You must have completed the preparation course with a minimum of 20 units of humanities subjects.

Note that this preparation course cannot be used for entry into Combined Law, programs offered by the UNSW Business School (except for Commerce, Economics and Information Systems), Medicine, Medicinal Chemistry, Medical Science, Advanced Science, Advanced Mathematics, Optometry (incl. Vision Science), and Psychology (please note that Psychology can be studied as a major in the Bachelor of Life Sciences, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Psychological Science).

This qualification is valid for 5 years only.

To study at UNSW you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

You can use the grades you've received from this preparation course as a form of assessment for entry into most UNSW degrees - as long as you are 21 years old or older as of 1 March in the year you start your undergraduate study at UNSW.

Note that this preparation course cannot be used for entry into Medicine or Optometry (incl. Vision Science).

This qualification is valid for 5 years only.

To study at UNSW you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

You can use the grades you've received from this preparation course as a form of assessment for entry into some UNSW degrees - as long as you are 21 years old or older as of 1 March in the year you start your undergraduate study at UNSW.

Note that this preparation course cannot be used for entry into Combined Law, programs offered by the UNSW Business School (except for Commerce, Economics and Information Systems), Medicine, Medicinal Chemistry, Medical Science, Advanced Science, Advanced Mathematics, Optometry (incl. Vision Science), and Psychology (please note that Psychology can be studied as a major in the Bachelor of Life Sciences, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Psychological Science). This qualification is valid for 5 years only.

To study at UNSW you will need to submit an application via the Universities Admissions Centre. Visit their website for detailed information on how to apply.

Admission to UNSW is based on academic merit. As such, we need something to assess you on.

There are a number of qualifications or preparation programs you could pursue to gain a qualification that we can assess for admission here at UNSW. This would include the UNSW University Preparation Program (UPP), UNSW Prep program, University of Sydney's University Preparation Course (UPC) or University of Newcastle's Open Foundation Program, a TAFE qualification (minimum of a graded Certificate IV or above. A completed graded qualification will make you competitive for many some degrees at UNSW) or study at another university for a minimum of 0.75 full-time equivalent study load.

Once you have completed any of the above, we can then use the results you receive to assess you for entry into our degrees.

An alternative for someone without an assessable qualification noted above, and also interested in studying either the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of International Public Health or Bachelor of Science only, is to complete UAC's Special Tertiary Admissions Test or STAT. To be eligible for admission with STAT results, you must be 21 years old or older by 1 March in the year you start your undergraduate study at UNSW and achieve a minimum score of 165 in the STAT Multiple Choice and 150 in the STAT Written English. STAT test results are valid for 3 years. Note: Admission via STAT results is a pilot only and may be withdrawn at any time.

As everyone's situation is unique, it's probably best that we have a chat to discuss your specific circumstances and what may be the best option for you. Please ring the Future Students Office on (02) 9385 1844 or submit a question.

High School Students

Accepted Qualifications

Did you complete something other than the HSC? If so, check out our other accepted qualifications here.

Accepted Qualifications

As a current high school student, your admission to UNSW will be based on your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) that you receive after completing your Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (such as the HSC).

If you're completing something other than the NSW HSC, here’s a list of other qualifications that UNSW considers for entry:

NSW HSC and Interstate Year 12 Qualifications

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)

GCE A-Levels

New Zealand NCEA Level 3

Overseas secondary qualifications considered equivalent to Australian studies

If the qualification you've completed isn't listed above, please enter the country where you completed your qualification below for a list of the accepted qualifications from that country.

Enter a Country name

If you hold an overseas secondary qualification from a country where English is not the standard language used in education, please check our English language proficiency requirements.

You can find the previous year's Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) for entry into UNSW degrees using Find a Degree. Generally, the LSR for a degree shows the minimum Selection Rank needed by applicants when offers were made. LSRs can vary from year to year, so please use the published LSRs as a guide only.

If you want to discuss your particular qualification or have any questions about how you'll be assessed for admission, please call us on (02) 9385 1844 or Ask a Question.

Apply through UAC

All applications for undergraduate study from Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens are processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). And the good news is that it's really easy to apply.

Just visit the'Apply' section of the UAC website and you can nominate up to five degrees you’d like to study in order of your preference (e.g. 1 your most desired degree/uni to 5 your least desired degree/uni - but you'd still be happy to study it if you don't get an offer for 1-4).

On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year. If you like to pay late fees, you can still apply after the on-time application date.

For study starting in Semester 1 and Term 1, UNSW makes the majority of offers in December and January.

Additional Entry Requirements

It's also a good idea to check if your preferred degree has any extra entry requirements (aka Additional Selection Criteria). This might be a separate application, interview, audition or test. If you don't complete these, you won't be able to get an offer to that degree. You can quickly find out if your degree has any extra entry requirements by using Find a Degree (under your degree look for "ATAR + ..." in the ATAR Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) field).

Prerequisites

Finally, you've probably heard of prerequisites. If not, don't worry - we don't have them at UNSW - but, we sometimes assume that you will have completed certain subjects in the HSC. We call this Assumed Knowledge. To see if your preferred degree has any Assumed Knowledge, use Find a Degree. What are you supposed to do if you haven't completed an Assumed Knowledge subject for your degree? First, don't panic. Second, consider how important that subject may be to the degree. If your answer is, "I hate maths" perhaps an Engineering degree may not be the right degree for you. Third, consider completing a Bridging Course. If you don't, you'll definitely be at a disadvantage. Check out the ones below offered by UNSW - but you could complete one anywhere.

Useful Links

Accommodation

Accommodation

Living on campus at UNSW Australia provides more than just a place to live. It provides a home - as supportive, safe and secure, as a true home should be.

You can choose from fully catered or self-catered residential colleges on campus, independent living on campus, or renting privately in the local area. You’ll find more information at the UNSW Accommodation website.

Alternative Admission

UNSW recognizes that sometimes your ATAR or equivalent may not reflect your true potential. Some of our degrees offer alternative admission schemes to give you the opportunity to gain entry to a degree you originally may have missed out on.

Portfolio Entry

UNSW accepts portfolios in conjunction with your ATAR (or equivalent) for students who are expecting an ATAR within 10 points of the Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) to which an offer was made for some degrees with Art & Design (formerly COFA) and Built Environment.

Bachelor of Information Systems Admissions Scheme (BISAS)

The Bachelor of Information Systems Admissions Scheme (BISAS) at UNSW Sydney offers an alternative pathway for domestic students into the Bachelor of Information Systems program. Click below for more information.

Exchange

At UNSW, there are so many ways to incorporate an exchange adventure into your degree and study in a country you're passionate about. You just need to decide on when and where.

UNSW offers exchange opportunities at over 200 universities in 39 countries. Basing yourself in Asia, North America, Europe or South America at one of the world's top universities, you could learn a new language, get to know a different culture, establish global professional networks and make lasting international friendships.

All UNSW students who meet the criteria are eligible to apply for exchange and there are even scholarships to help you on your way. Students can go on exchange for a semester/term or for one year. If you enrol in some degrees, such as the Bachelor of International Studies, one-year on exchange is built right into your degree.

Indigenous Students

Nura Gili provides support and information for future and current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at UNSW.

Future students can apply through the UNSW Indigenous Admissions Scheme, which is administered by Nura Gili in conjunction with the Faculties and Schools across the university. For those interested in studying Business, Education, Law, Medicine or Social Work, Nura Gili provides Pre-Programs to students who are looking to explore and apply for entry to undergraduate degrees at UNSW in these areas.

For current students, staff are available to assist students with academic and administrative issues, housing and scholarships and pastoral support. The unit also manages the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) and facilitates programs to recruit and support Indigenous students at UNSW at all levels of study.

Internal Program Transfer

Maybe you didn’t get it right when you chose your degree or maybe you didn’t get into the degree you wanted to do in the first place. Either way, if you would like to change the UNSW degree you’re currently studying, then you can apply for an internal transfer.

UNSW Prep Program

We don’t want to miss out on great students. If you are eligible for the ACCESS Scheme, or are an Indigenous student applying via Nura Gili, you can also apply for UNSW Prep.

UNSW Prep will give you time to develop core academic skills in smaller classes with excellent tutors. Starting your UNSW studies gradually, so that you can excel throughout your degree is what UNSW Prep is all about. That’s not to say it’s easy. Application is competitive and to be considered you will need to show motivation and interest in your preferred study area and achieve an ATAR of at least 50.

UNSW Foundation Studies

UNSW Foundation Studies is the longest-running and leading pre-university foundation program in Australia, offering high quality university pathway programs to UNSW and other universities for over 25 years.

Please visit our website for further information on dates and courses on offer.

Scholarships

Each year we provide hundreds of scholarships to help students of all circumstances reach their educational goals.

Scholarships are offered in a broad range of categories including rural, Indigenous, academic merit, sports, equity and access, accommodation, travel and exchange, as well as for specific degrees and faculties.

We're able to offer such a wide range of scholarships and awards thanks to the generosity of UNSW alums, corporate and private donors. These are people who believe in UNSW and the quality of our graduates and want to support you along the way.

To search and apply for scholarships, visit the UNSW Scholarships website.

Adjustment Factors

EAPL Program

You may be eligible for up to five points through the EAPL Program, if you have demonstrated commitment and excellence in sport, music, leadership or academic achievements. To be eligible for EAPL, you must apply!

HSC Plus rewards your strong performance in relevant HSC subjects (and equivalents) with up to five points. The points are added automatically, so there's nothing you need to do. Calculate your points and find out more below.

Life isn't always smooth sailing. Things like illness, financial hardship, language difficulties and school environment may mean you don't always get your best marks in years 11 and 12. The Educational Access Scheme is designed to assist you.